Through-Put Rates Of Small-Scale Palm Nut Crackers Used In Ghana

Abstract

Through-put rates and efficiencies of locally-fabricated small-scale palm nut cracking machines operated in the informal sector in Ghana were assessed using data from 24 field trials on eight cracker mills randomly selected from 13 mills. Cracking rates ranged from 349.9 to 1141.2 kg/h, with lower rates obtained for poorly dried nuts, and tenera fruit varieties with relatively smaller nuts. The cracking efficiency varied from 97.5 to 99.4 % and fuel use efficiency was from 46.6 % to 70.0 %. The data will serve as a guide for sizing equipment in setting up cracking operation in small-scale palm nut processing

Journal of Applied Science and Technology Vol. 12 (1&2) 2007: pp. 105-113